I’m Back (Herein of the Downballot in Tuesday’s Primary)

I’m back (temporarily). Almost half the messages on my answering machine were robocalls from the Gimenez for Mayor campaign.

I really pains me that I’m going to vote for this man, who seems very anti-worker, but the alternative is worse.

Similarly, I’m going to vote to re-elect Katherine Fernandez Rundle as State Attorney, despite being quite underwhelmed by the performance on public corruption cases over the years. But again, the alternative is worse.

I don’t get to vote against Erik Fresen, my local state rep (District 114), who has a contested Republican primary. This water-carrier for gambling interests does not deserve your vote if you have one in that primary.

I do get to vote against Senator Nelson if I want to, and I do, but the problem is that his opponent would be roadkill in the general election. So it’s probably Nelson or nothing.

I don’t get to vote in FL-26 congressional, but I’ll be rooting for Joe Garcia.

But then there’s the down ballot.

The Herald has endorsed Carlos Lopez-Cantera for property appraiser (perhaps because his wife works for the paper?), but Lopez-Cantera’s career in the state house and his chumminess with Rick Scott does not make me a fan. I think I’ll vote to keep the incumbent, Pedro Garcia.

This will probably get me hate mail, but I will vote No on 500 — which is a vote to retain the pit bull ban. Don’t like ’em, don’t think we need more of them.

Looking at the sample ballot for Tuesday, I see a ton of Democratic Party offices are up for election. First I’ve heard about it. How on earth do I get information about how to vote on these?

I may write up something about the judges tomorrow if I have the time. But in case I don’t, be sure to vote line 89, for Diana Gonzalez as Miami-Dade County Judge; this is vote to unseat Ana Maria Pando, who misused official letterhead to help a campaign contributor. In a poll of local attorneys, 60% (!!!) voted Judge Pando unqualified. 60%!